At a Glance
A small, arts-rich middle school with strong family engagement but uneven academics — math lags notably behind district averages
Families who prioritize a small, tight-knit school with strong arts and STEM programs, excellent family communication, and a nearly suspension-free environment — and who are prepared to supplement math instruction at home or through outside tutoring. Best for families whose children perform strongly in ELA and can thrive with additional math support.
- Extraordinarily rich program offerings (100/100 score) spanning arts, STEM, world languages, and extracurriculars
- Near-zero discipline with only 1 suspension last year — an extremely restorative environment
- High parent trust scores (94% principal trust, 91% teacher trust)
- Small school feel with 359 students and average class size of 25
- Dedicated ELL support and 28% IEP student population with visible inclusion practices
- Math proficiency (42.9%) is significantly below district average — a serious academic gap
- Teacher surveys show low confidence in instruction quality (57%), with very low response rates raising questions about staff morale
- Chronic absenteeism is high overall (84.5%) with stark disparities by gender and race
- Grade 8 math scores (37.4%) are particularly weak — the oldest students struggle most in math
- PTA fundraising ($275/student) is roughly half the district average, indicating less family financial capacity for enrichment
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 15
Among District 15 peer schools rated 90-95, M.S. 839's overall score of 2.17/4 places it below the district average of 2.58. While parent satisfaction and trust metrics are competitive, academic performance — especially in math — doesn't match the neighborhood's high education orientation or the district's stronger schools.
ELA proficiency at 65.8% runs just ahead of the District 15 average of 65.5%, but math at 42.9% trails the district's 63.3% by a significant margin. The school's academic trajectory has been uneven — math surged from 30% in 2016 to 55% in 2018, then dipped and has only partially recovered. Grade-level patterns are striking: 8th graders show strong ELA (70.7%) but the lowest math scores (37.4%), while 7th graders excel in both. This suggests a cohort effect or uneven instruction across subjects and grades.
Family survey results paint a largely positive picture: 94% of parents trust the principal, 91% trust teachers, and 89% are satisfied overall. But teacher responses tell a different story — only 57% rate instruction quality favorably, and participation in the teacher survey was extremely low (just 16 responses). This gap between parent perception and teacher sentiment is notable. Attendance is solid at 93.8%, though chronic absenteeism is high at 84.5%, with female students and Black students missing more school than peers. Discipline is essentially nonexistent with a 0% suspension rate.
The school enrollment of 359 students is relatively small for a middle school, with a demographics mix that leans whiter (45%) than many District 15 schools but still notably diverse — 26% Hispanic, 14% Asian, 8% Black. The diversity index of 76% reflects this mix. With 28% of students having IEPs, the school serves a meaningful special education population. The 47.8% economic need index suggests a mix of families across income levels, though the surrounding neighborhood is affluent.
Windsor Terrace-South Slope is a family-friendly area with high education orientation (79th percentile) and strong transit options. Median household income of $138,231 and a 73% BA+ education rate among residents signal an academically focused community. The neighborhood scores modestly on safety (55th percentile) and has lower health environment scores, but offers solid family density and stability. Parks and local businesses create a walkable, neighborhood feel.
Families from the neighborhood typically walk or take short public transit rides; the area is well-served by subway lines with good connectivity to wider Brooklyn
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 166 families responded (53% rate)
Programs & Activities
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is M.S. 839 a good school?
- On Motley, M.S. 839 earns an overall quality score of 54/100 — a blend of New York State ELA and math results, attendance, and the school-climate survey. Its state test results run below the District 15 average.
- What grades does M.S. 839 serve?
- M.S. 839 serves grades 6 to 8.
- How do students get into M.S. 839?
- M.S. 839 admits by application through a random lottery, with no academic screen.
- Is M.S. 839 public, charter, or private?
- M.S. 839 is a public school in NYC Community School District 15.
- What neighborhood is M.S. 839 in?
- M.S. 839 is in Windsor Terrace-South Slope, Brooklyn.
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